Electrical wire inserting tool

ABSTRACT

A tool for inserting an electrical wire into a clip type terminal is described. The tool uses an automatic impulse generator to apply a controlled impulse to a blade during insertion of the wire. The tool features a novel blade construction providing a removable and reversible tip.

[451 July 29,1975

3,588,932 6/1971 Sedlacek......,..................... 7/l4.l R 3,742,573

[ ELECTRICAL WIRE INSERTING TOOL [75] Inventors: Harry Kaufman, NewRochelle,

7/1973 Kaufman........................... 29/203 H N.Y.; Myron K.Gordin, Oskaloosa, Iowa Primary ExaminerCarl E. Hall N ik Mr. d w. mm mm Hm 0c e H m S S A M U 22 Filed: Dec. 16, 1974 211 Appl. No.: 533,284

ABSTRACT A tool for inserting an electrical wire into a clip typeterminal is described. The tool uses an automatic impulse generator toapply a controlled impulse to a [58] Field of Search..... 29/203 H, 203I-IC, 203 HT,

blade during insertion of the wire. The tool features a 29/203 D, 203DT, 628; 7/l4.1 R

novel blade construction providing a removable and reversible tip;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,168,750 Gattiker, 7/14.l R 9Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] JUL 2 9 I975 SHEET FIG. 4

FIG.6

FiG.7

l ELECTRICAL WIRE INSERTING TOOL This invention relates to a wireinsertion tool, and in particular to a manual, insertion and wireclipping tool for inserting electrical wire into the slot of a clip typeterminal of an electrical terminal block or connector.

Reference is made to US. Pat. No. 3,742,573 issued to one of us, whosecontents are hereby incorpo ated into this specification. The presentinvention is directed to an improvement of the tool described in thatpatent, which in addition to possessing all the advantages of thepatented tool, offers the additional advantage of being able to replacein a very simple manner the active part of the working blade should itbecome worn or damaged.

In accordance with the present invention, the blade is provided with areplaceable and reversible tip member which affords easy replacementshould the cutting end, formed of hardened tool steel, become damaged orworn during use. This is achieved, in accordance with one feature ofthis invention, by reconstructing the blade distal or working end tocontain a channel into whose opposed side walls is provided grooves forreceiving correspondingly shaped projections extending from opposed sidewalls of the tip member. In a preferred form, the grooves are V-shapedto form what can be described as a modified dovetail joint between thetip member and blade. Means are provided for removably locking the tipmember to the blade.

In accordance with a further feature of this invention, an improvedblade mounting adaptor is provided for removably securing the blade atits proximal or mounting end to the end of the impulse generator withinthe tool handle.

In accordance with still a further feature of this invention, the meansfor locking the replaceable tip member to the blade comprises a latchingmember in the form of a novelly configured flat spring member, whichalso functions to stabilize the position of the blade within the toolhandle.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be bestunderstood from the following detailed description of one exemplaryembodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one form of tool in accordance with ourinvention, shown in its entirety with the handle lower end sectioned;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the lower end of the tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the blade as removed from the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the blade taken along the line 44;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of a latching spring incorporated in theblade;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the replaceable tip member of the blade;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the tip member shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an end view of the tip member shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of the lower part of the blade withthe tip member reversed.

Reference is made to US. Pat. No. 3,742,573, whose contents areincorporated herein, for a description of the prior art tool showing howsuch tools are operated for inserting wires into clip terminals on, forexample, a terminal block with the blade in one position, and how wireinsertion and termination by clipping is effected by reversing the bladein the holder so that a cutting edge is exposed. The present toolperforms the same functions as this patented tool. The present tool alsoincorporates in its handle an automatic impulse generator of knownconstruction which operates similarly to that of the patented tool, inthat after the pro- 10 jecting ram which is part of the impulsegenerator has been moved inward a preset distance, the impulse mechanismis actuated imparting a blow of uniform intensity, via the ram, to theblade seating the wire in the clip and severing the wire where that isdesired in a controlled and uniform manner to prevent damage to theblock. Also, if desired, the impulse generator may be provided withmeans for varying the impulse intensity. The impulse generator used inthe present tool is not part of the present invention and thus is notshown in detail. US. Pat. No. 2,866,266; 2,907,241; and 3,029,512 arealso referenced as illustrating various impulse generating constructionsadaptable for use in the tool of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an elevational view of oneform of manual wire insertion tool in accordance with our invention. Itcomprises, similarly to the patented tool, an elongated shaped handle orhousing 10, made, for example, of suitable synthetic resin, containingin a cavity in its interior a standard impulse generating mechanism 11.The handle is conveniently made in two halves fastened together byconventional fastening means. The impulse generator 11 terminates in aram assembly comprising a cylindrical member 12 fitted at its bottomwith a ball retainer 13 used as an adaptor for securing the workingblade to the impulse generator. The blade, designated 15, has agenerally rectangular cross-section and reciprocates within a generallyrectangular guideway 16 which prevents rotation of the blade. The bladehas at its end proximate to the impulse generator a tapered retainingcavity 17 adapted to be pushed onto the ball retainer 13 for securingthe blade to the ram 12.

The blade 15 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. The retainingcavity 17, shown at the right hand end, is formed between opposedprojecting arms 18 of the blade. This construction permits the arms toflex slightly simplifying assembly and disassembly of the blade to theram, yet also provides a secure attachment. Extending from about thecenter of the blade 15 to the opposite end, distal with respect to theimpulse generator, is a recessed elongated channel 20 having a bottomwall 21 and opposed side walls 22. Extending along each side wall is anelongated V-shaped groove 23. The grooves extend to the blade distalend.

The blade 15 is provided with a replaceable tip member 25, shown ingreater detail in FIGS. 6 to 8. The tip 25 is a generally rectangular,flat member of hardened tool steel having at one end (left side of FIG.6) a fiat end 26, and at the opposite end a projecting cutting edge 27.The long edges of the tip form tapered projections 28 configured to matewith the V-grooves 23 of the blade. Thus, the thickness dimension of thetip corresponds to the horizontal dimension of the groove 23 as shown inFIG. 4. On the outer flat side of the tip is provided a cut-out section29 used by the operator as a finger hold for assembling or disassemblingthe tip. On the opposite flat side are provided two, spaced,

latching crevices 30 which extend transversely to the long dimension ofthe tip. Thef ljatching crevices 30 are provided with one vertical wallfil and one tapered wall 32.

The tip member 25 is locked in position by a latching, spring metal,clip member 35, which is illustrated in FIG. 5. It is constituted offlat spring metal stock configured to provide a generally flat middleportion '36 which curves downward to the right or proximal end (relativeto the ram) and then upward to form a generally V-shaped end 37. At theleft side it curves upward 38, runs horizontally 39 and terminates in alatching projecting end 40. The shape from the top can be seen in FIG.2. At the midportion 36 is provided a hole 41 by which the spring 35 issecured by a suitable fastener 42 to a hole 43 located at a mid-point ofthe blade 15. When assembled to the blade, as shown in FIG. 1 and 2, theproximal end extends over the blade surface with V-projection 37protruding outwardly from the plane of the blade. With the bladeassembled, as shown in FIG. 1, the V-projection 37 is engaged by thefacing guideway 16 wall, and the resulting spring tension urges theblade against the opposed guideway wall and thus holds the blade firmlyin the handle guideway and yet allows it to reciprocate freely withinthe guideway as required during use.

The distal end of the spring fits within the channel 20 with the portion39 extending along the channel bottom 21, and with the. latching end 40projecting and being biased outwardly. The dimensioning is such thatclearance exists between the bottomwall 21 and the clip horizontalportion 39, and by pressing the spring clip at 45 (FIG. 1), the latchingend 40 is depressed.

When the tip member is inserted into the channel grooves 23, it is movedupwardly until spring latching end 40 engages the nearer latchingcrevice in the tip side thereby locking the tip into position. The tipis readily removed by the user depressing the spring at 45 to releasethe latch.

FIG. 1 shows the blade with the tip in its wire insertion position. Thespacing between the channel wall 21 and tip surface, and between thechannel side wells 22 forms a recess or slot 46 dimensioned to receivethe clip terminal- The recess opening is tapered shown at 47 (FIG. 3) toaid in receiving the terminal. As the tool is pushed down the blade 15secured to the ram of the impulse generator moves inward along itsguideway until the impulse generator delivers an impulse to the bladevia the ram to complete seating of the wire. For wire clipping, inaddition to seating, the tip 25 is removed and reversed, end-to-end,into the position shown in FIG. 9 so that the cutting edge 27 projectsdownwardly. Again, a recess 46 is formed for accommodating the terminal.During use, application of the impulse not only seats the wire but alsosevers its end.

The tool of the invention offers the following advantages over the knowntools. Replacement costs for the cutting edge are reduced, since onlythe tip member need be replaced when the cutting edge 27 wears orbecomes damaged, rather than the entire blade. Manufacturing costs arelowered since only the flat tip member need be made of costly, hardenedtool steel. Despite the replaceable tip feature, nevertheless the toolis very sturdy with the blade and tip firmly fitted together and to theimpulse generator with no resultant looseness or play in the bladeduring operation. Yet, the tip is easily assembled and disassembled tothe blade. These features are obtained as a result of the V-groovesprovided in the channel mating with the tapered projections on the tipforming a tight, sturdy dovetail-type joint between the two, incooperation'with the easily operated spring latch for locking the tip inits two operative positions. Moreover, the blade is easily assembled anddisassembled from the handle by means of the ball retainer construction.Further, the proximal end of the spring also serves to hold the bladefirmly within the guideway during operation. Both functions combined inthe single spring lowers manufacturing costs.

While the embodiment shown and described is preferred, the invention isnot limited thereto. For example, the channel grooves and mating tipprojections could have other configurations instead of a V, such as a Uor a true mortise and tenon dovetail. The tip could be provided withrecesses instead of slots for receiving the latching end of the spring.If desired, the spring proximal end could be further extended up theguideway.

While our invention has been described in connection with specificembodiments thereof, those skilledin the art will recognize that variousmodifications are possible within the principles enunciated herein andthus the present invention is not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wire inserting tool comprising a housing, an impulse generatorwithin the housing, and a working blade having one end proximal to theimpulse generator to receive an impulse and an opposite end distal fromthe impulse generator and projecting from the housing and having arecess for accommodating a wirereceiving terminal which blade serves forsevering and seating the wire in the terminal, the improvementcomprising the blade distal end having a channel, a separable tip memberhaving at one end a cutting edge, and means for removably mounting thetip member to the blade at the channel to form between the channel andthe tip the terminal-accomodating recess.

2. A tool as claimed'in claim 1 wherein the blade channel is defined bya bottom wall and opposed side walls, and the tip member mounting meanscomprises grooves in the channel side walls, the tip member having alongopposed edges projections shaped to mate with and engage the channelside-wall grooves.

3. A tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein the channel.

side-wall grooves are V-shaped. V

4. A tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein the channel side-wall groovesand tip member edge projections form a dovetail-type joint.

5. A tool as claimed in claim 2 and further comprising means for lockingthe tip member to the blade.

6. A tool as claimed in claim 5 wherein the tip locking means comprisesa flat spring member secured to the blade and having a distal endconfigured to extend within the blade channel and latchingly-engage arecess in the tip member surface.

7. A tool as claimed in claim 6 wherein the tip member has at itsopposite end a flattened edge, and at its surface two transversecrevices each for engaging the spring distal end when the tip member ismounted in one of two reversed positions on the blade, a portion of thespring member extending outwardly of the blade for unlatching of the tipmember.

8. A tool as claimed in claim 7 wherein the blade extends within aguideway in the housing, the impulse the spring member extends outwardlyfrom the blade within the guideway and bears against the guideway wallto firmly hold the blade within the guideway.

1. In a wire inserting tool comprising a housing, an impulse generatorwithin the housing, and a working blade having one end proximal to theimpulse generator to receive an impulse and an opposite end distal fromthe impulse generator and projecting from the housing and having arecess for accommodating a wirereceiving terminal which blade serves forsevering and seating the wire in the terminal, the improvementcomprising the blade distal end having a channel, a separable tip memberhaving at one end a cutting edge, and means for removably mounting thetip member to the blade at the channel to form between the channel andthe tip the terminal-accomodating recess.
 2. A tool as claimed in claim1 wherein the blade channel is defined by a bottom wall and opposed sidewalls, and the tip member mounting means comprises grooves in thechannel side walls, the tip member having along opposed edgesprojections shaped to mate with and engage the channel side-wallgrooves.
 3. A tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein the channel side-wallgrooves are V-shaped.
 4. A tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein thechannel side-wall grooves and tip member edge projections form adovetail-type joint.
 5. A tool as claimed in claim 2 and furthercomprising means for locking the tip member to the blade.
 6. A tool asclaimed in claim 5 wherein the tip locking means comprises a flat springmember secured to the blade and having a distal end configured to extendwithin the blade channel and latchingly-engage a recess in the tipmember surface.
 7. A tool as claimed in claim 6 wherein the tip memberhas at its opposite end a flattened edge, and at its surface twotransverse crevices each for engaging the spring distal end when the tipmember is mounted in one of two reversed positions on the blade, aportion of the spring member extending outwardly of the blade forunlatching of the tip member.
 8. A tool as claimed in claim 7 whereinthe blade extends within a guideway in the housing, the impulsegenerator is provided with an adaptor having a ball retainer end, andthe blade proximal end is configured to resiliently engage and connectto the ball retainer of the adaptor.
 9. A tool as claimed in claim 8wherein a portion of the spring member extends outwardly from the bladewithin the guideway and bears against the guideway wall to firmly holdthe blade within the guideway.